--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything's wrong on Wikipedia." description: "\"Everything's wrong on Wikipedia.\" — Gore Vidal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/gore-vidal-466_wikipedia_everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia-2012845_2012845.jpg" --- # Everything's wrong on Wikipedia. ![“Everything's wrong on Wikipedia.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/gore-vidal-466_wikipedia_everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia-2012845_2012845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/gore-vidal-466_wikipedia_everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia-2012845_2012845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/gore-vidal-466_wikipedia_everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia-2012845_2012845.jpg) > “Everything's wrong on Wikipedia.” [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote expresses frustration that Wikipedia contains many errors, implying a lack of reliability. **In simple terms:** Wikipedia is often inaccurate. Key Takeaway Check facts before trusting online sources. Themes information reliability media criticism Mood skeptical critical Type observational cautionary When to use this quote - research - writing - education - fact-checking Key Concepts digital literacy source evaluation Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify online information? - What are the risks of trusting unverified sources? A Different Perspective Even reliable platforms can have errors; verification is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [The strange thing with Wikipedia is that the first article that ever gets written about you will define your Wikipedia page forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-strange-thing-with-wikipedia-is-that-the-first-article-that-ever/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Wikipedia celebrates its 12th birthday today. Of course, I have no idea if it's true. I read it on Wikipedia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/wikipedia-celebrates-its-12th-birthday-today-of-course-i-have-no-idea/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [A lot of stuff in Wikipedia is not true, and that goes for a lot of people. I sometimes think, "How can that happen?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/a-lot-of-stuff-in-wikipedia-is-not-true-and-that-goes-for-a-lot-of/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [Citizendium is based on the failings and unreliability of Wikipedia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-sanger/citizendium-is-based-on-the-failings-and-unreliability-of-wikipedia/) [Larry Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-sanger/) > [Wikipedia is first and foremost an effort to create and distribute a free encyclopedia of the highest possible quality to every single person on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/wikipedia-is-first-and-foremost-an-effort-to-create-and-distribute-a/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [When I opened Wikipedia, it had three articles, yet it was called an encyclopedia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/when-i-opened-wikipedia-it-had-three-articles-yet-it-was-called-an/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [Wikipedia only works in practice. In theory, it's a total disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-gardner/wikipedia-only-works-in-practice-in-theory-it-s-a-total-disaster/) [Sue Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-gardner/) > [I think I am done with Wikipedia for the time being. But I have a secret hope. Someone recently proposed a Wikimorgue - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-think-i-am-done-with-wikipedia-for-the-time-being-but-i-have-a/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [It turns out a lot of people don't get it. Wikipedia is like rock'n'roll; it's a cultural shift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/it-turns-out-a-lot-of-people-don-t-get-it-wikipedia-is-like-rock-n/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [In the world of the Internet, there are many falsehoods. Anyone can write stuff on Wikipedia, and it doesn't have to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hulce/in-the-world-of-the-internet-there-are-many-falsehoods-anyone-can/) Tom Hulce > [The core of Wikipedia is something people really believe in. That is too valuable for the world to screw it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/the-core-of-wikipedia-is-something-people-really-believe-in-that-is/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [The core community is passionate about quality and getting it right. If you want to read some good criticisms of Wikipedia, probably the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/the-core-community-is-passionate-about-quality-and-getting-it-right/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [I'm actually an optimist about what lies ahead. Are wikis reliable? It depends on the specific business. Is Wikipedia reliable? You bet. Wikipedia is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-saffo/i-m-actually-an-optimist-about-what-lies-ahead-are-wikis-reliable-it/) [Paul Saffo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-saffo/) > [I don't believe Wikipedia about anything. I don't go there for anything but keywords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/i-don-t-believe-wikipedia-about-anything-i-don-t-go-there-for/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/wikipedia-is-the-best-thing-ever-anyone-in-the-world-can-write/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) ## More by Gore Vidal > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/many-people-in-the-united-states-happen-to-believe-that-united-states/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/style-is-knowing-who-you-are-what-you-want-to-say-and-not-giving-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. But we do know that the oligarchs are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-oligarchs-think-that-the-people-are-both-dangerous-and-stupid/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is curious how often one prefers his enemies to his friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-often-one-prefers-his-enemies-to-his-friends/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/as-societies-grow-decadent-the-language-grows-decadent-too-words-are/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Rome ... at its most decadent, had never thought of hiring an actor to go through the motions of being an emperor while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/rome-at-its-most-decadent-had-never-thought-of-hiring-an-actor-to-go/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/history-is-nothing-but-gossip-about-the-past-with-the-hope-that-it/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Sex is a continuum. You go through different phases along life's way... and if you don't, you've been sort of cheated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/sex-is-a-continuum-you-go-through-different-phases-along-life-s-way/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [All I want is that Americans still be able to read the alphabet in a hundred years. I am not very ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/all-i-want-is-that-americans-still-be-able-to-read-the-alphabet-in-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I do not admire 'the people,' as such. No one really does. Their folk wisdom is usually false, their instincts predatory. Even their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-do-not-admire-the-people-as-such-no-one-really-does-their-folk/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“One of the problems of a society as tightly controlled as ours is that we get so little information about what those of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/one-of-the-problems-of-a-society-as-tightly-controlled-as-ours-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) [Explore all 539 Gore Vidal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More Entry quotes > [The strange thing with Wikipedia is that the first article that ever gets written about you will define your Wikipedia page forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-strange-thing-with-wikipedia-is-that-the-first-article-that-ever/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Every coercive monopoly was created by government intervention into the economy: by special privileges, such as franchises or subsidies, which closed the entry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/every-coercive-monopoly-was-created-by-government-intervention-into/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [What business needs now is exactly what women are able to provide, and at the very time when women are surging into the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-helgesen/what-business-needs-now-is-exactly-what-women-are-able-to-provide-and/) [Sally Helgesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-helgesen/) > [Once I'd worked out that I couldn't possibly expect people to enjoy a monstrous, 3000-page book, I realised I could in fact create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/once-i-d-worked-out-that-i-couldn-t-possibly-expect-people-to-enjoy-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I don't believe Wikipedia about anything. I don't go there for anything but keywords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/i-don-t-believe-wikipedia-about-anything-i-don-t-go-there-for/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking-2/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The players themselves can be classified into two groups- the attractions and the entry fees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-demaret/the-players-themselves-can-be-classified-into-two-groups-the/) [Jimmy Demaret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-demaret/) > [Every human being has gone through a tragedy of sorts. And the idea is that you have two paths you can take, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/every-human-being-has-gone-through-a-tragedy-of-sorts-and-the-idea-is/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [“I made it into Wikipedia,” sang Erszebet. “I’ll bet none of my enemies ever made it into Wikipedia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-made-it-into-wikipedia-sang-erszebet-i-ll-bet-none-of-my-enemies/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [There can be no doubt that Samuel Marchbanks is one of the choice and master spirits of this age. If there were such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/there-can-be-no-doubt-that-samuel-marchbanks-is-one-of-the-choice-and/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [There must be an open space in the paintings - an entry space for the viewer, or even for me. Just white space where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-bisky/there-must-be-an-open-space-in-the-paintings-an-entry-space-for-the/) [Norbert Bisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-bisky/) > [...what about the millions of poor in this country who desperately need assistance and services to help bring them out of poverty? Shall they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/what-about-the-millions-of-poor-in-this-country-who-desperately-need/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [ \[Margaret Thatcher\] is a woman who, when she wrote her entry for "Who's Who," didn't include her mother. Now whether that was corrected in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/margaret-thatcher-is-a-woman-who-when-she-wrote-her-entry-for-who-s/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Where all strange and possibly evil things begin. Wikipedia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-d-ficklin/where-all-strange-and-possibly-evil-things-begin-wikipedia/) [Sherry D. Ficklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-d-ficklin/) Browse all 381 Entry quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everything's wrong on Wikipedia.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gore Vidal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Entry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/gore-vidal-466_wikipedia_everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia-2012845_2012845.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/gore-vidal-466_wikipedia_everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia-2012845_2012845.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/gore-vidal-466_wikipedia_everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia-2012845_2012845.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everything's wrong on Wikipedia.” — Gore Vidal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gore Vidal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everything's wrong on Wikipedia.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/everything-s-wrong-on-wikipedia/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```